Cartridge-extracting mechanism for firearms



` D. ylvl. WILLIAMS 2,412,663

Filed Nov. 2, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet l /Nv'f/v-roe DAVID M. WIgL'lAMS 5J CARTRIDGE-EXTRACTING MECHANISM FOR FIREARMS De?n 17, 1946.

Dec- 17, 1946- D. M. wII LIAMs 2,412,663

CARTRIDGE-EXTRACTING MECHANISM FOR FIREARMS Filed Nov. 2. 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGIA.

/Ivvf/vrok DAVID M. WILLIAMS 5xJ-W-M,M am

Arr-omver:

Dec. 17, 1946. D. M, WILLIAMS 2,412,663

CARTRIDGE-EXTRACTIG MECHANISM FOR FIREARMS Filed NOV. 2, 1944 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 v hva/N161? DAVID M WILLmms Patented Dec. 17, 946

UNirs sr CARTRIDGE-EXTRACTIN G MECHANISM FOR FIREARMS Ware Application November 2, 1944, Serial No. 561,528

The present invention relates to improvements in cartridge-extracting mechanisms for firearms, i. e., mechanisms whereby cartridges are'extracted from the cartridge-chamber of a rearm for being ejected prior to the insertion of a fresh cartridge into the said cartridge-chamber.

One of the main objects of the present invention is to provide a superior cartridge-extracting mechanism for firearms which is characterized by a construction and arrangement of parts whereby the cartridge-extractor is positively locked or held in engagement with a cartridge.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a superior mechanism of the character referred to and having a constructionand arrangement of parts whereby the cartridge-extractor is positively held in engagement with a Acartridge when the breech-bolt is in its breechclosing position, to thereby avoid the inadvertent retirement or displacement of the cartridge-extractor in the event that a faulty cartridge-case should burst and thus permit the emission of hot high-pressure gases.

Afurther object of the present invention is, to provide a superior cartridge-extracting mechanism for firearms which will firmly hold the cartridge-extractor in engagement with the cartridge when the breech-bolt carrying the said cartridge-extractor is retired rearwardly into a position to permit the ejection of the said cartridge, to thereby insure proper ejection of the previously-extracted cartridge.

'With the above and other objects in View, as will appear to those skilled in the art from the present disclosure, this invention includes all features in the said disclosure which are novel over the prior art and which are not claimed in any separate application.

In the accompanying drawings, in which certain modes of carrying out the present invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

Fig. 1 isa broken view of the central portion of a firearm embodying the present invention and showing the same partly in side elevation and partly inV vertical central-longitudinal section, with the parts in the positions which they assume at the instant of the discharge of the firearm;

Fig. 2 is a top or plan View thereof;

Fig. 3 is a broken horizontal sectional `view taken on the line 3-3 o Fig. 1, but on a larger scale; Y

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectionalA view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; ,Y

' Fig. 5 is a view corresponding to Fig-.f4 but s claims. (o1. 42-25) showing the breech-bolt turned into its unlocked position;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the breech-bolt and associated elements partly -retired just prior to the ejection 'of the cartridge; Fig. 7 is va transverse sectional view taken on the line 'il-'I of Fig. 6;

. Fig.Y 8 is a perspective sectional view taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 9 is al perspective view of the cartridgeextractor, detached.

The particular firearm herein chosen for purposes of illustrating a' preferred embodiment of the present invention is of the self-loading type, and includes a stock l5, a receiver I6, a triggerplate unit Il, a barrel I8 and a barrel-cover or hand-guard I9; The r-eceiver I6, trigger-plate unit Il and barrel I8 are preferably formed of high-grade steel, while the stock I5 and barrel- 'cover I9 are preferably formed of wood or other suitable heat-insulating and shock-absorbing material.

The barrel I8 is rigidly attached to the bandlike forward-end 20 of the receiver I6 and has the usual axial bore 2| extending therethrough and enlarged at its rear-end to provide a cartridgechamber 22 in ythe usual manner of firearmbarrels. Y y

The upper-portion ofthe receiver I6 is formed in its interior with a longitudinally-extending bolt-receiving passage 23 laterally bounded by a left side-wall vl24, a top-wall 25 and a right sidewall 26. A portion of the right side-wall 26 andan adjacent portion of the top-wall 25 are cut away just to the rear of the band-like forward-end 20 of the receiver, to provide an ejection-opening 2'I through which empty cartridgecases may be ejected in a manner as will hereinafter appear.

Movably mounted in the bolt-receiving passage 2 3, with capacity for both longitudinal reciprocation and lateral oscillating movement, is a breech-bolt 28 which is of substantially-cylindrical form. Adjacent its forward-end, the breech-bolt 28 is formed with two laterally-extending locking-lugs 29 and 30. The said locking-lugs 2S and 30 are adapted to have their respective rear-faces engaged with forwardlylocking-abutments 3| and 32 respectively. The said locking-abutments 3| and 32 are respectively formed in the left side-wall 24 and the right-side-wall 26 of the receiver I6. y

The right-locking-lug 30 before referred to, ofthe breech-bolt 28, is extended substantially radially outwardly to provide an operating-lug ward-end of the action-slide 35 is1formed'with acrosshead 35 positioned for reciprocation mainly beneath the barrel I8. Thrusting forwardly against the rear-portion of theV crosshead 38v of the action-slide 35 is the forward-end of a breechclosing plunger 31 which is formed adjacent itsforward-end with a spring-seat 38. The rearportion of the breech-closing plunger'll is adapted to reciprocate in a longitudinal pocket 39 formed in and opening forwardly through the front-end of the right side-wall 28l of the receiver V5. Encircling the rear-portion of theY breechclosing plunger 31 and thrusting forwardly against thev spring-seat 38 thereof, isv a helical breech-closing spring d8 having its rear-portion extended into the pocket 39 which also receives the rear-portion of the said plunger 31.

l As thus` constructed and arranged', the breechclosing spring 4l] (acting through the breechclosingy plunger 31') exerts a constant-but-yielding, effort to hold the action-slide 35 at the limit of its forward movement and hence also serves to normally hold the breech-bolt 28 in its forward or breech-closing position.

Toy eifect the automatic lateral turning movement and rearward movement of the breech-bolt 28, the barrel i8 is formed at a point a short distance forwardly of the front-end of the receiver I6 with any integral downwardly-extending cylinder-lug 4l. The said cylinder-lug is formed with a rearwardly-opening piston-chamber 42 extending in substantial parallelism with the axis vof the barrel i8. Inits forward-portion, the cylinderlug ,4I is formed with an inclined gas-passage 43 (Fig, 1)l leading forwardly and upwardly from the front-end of the said piston-chamber 42-i into communication with. the bore 2i of the barrel I8.

Mounted for reciprocation the piston-chamber 42 of the cylinder-lug 4l is a piston 44 provided .at its forward-end with a head 45 andat its rear-end with a stemmi integral with and rearwardly projecting from the said head 45. The-stem just referred to extends through an externally-threaded ring-like stop-member 41 threaded into the internally-threaded rear-end of the piston-chamber 42.

The rear-end of the stem 45 of they piston 44 is normally engaged by a forwardly-facing portion of the cross-head 35 of the action-slide 35, while the forward-faceof theV head 45 of thev said piston is normally engaged with the rear-face of thev front-wall of the said piston-chamber 42, as is illustrated in Fig. 1.

Returning now to the breech-bolt 28, it will be noted by reference to'Figs. 3, 6 and 7 in particular, that the said breech-bolt is` formed in its forward-face with a forwardly-opening central recess 43 adapted to successively receive lthe head-ends of cartridge-casings such, for instance, as the cartridge-casing 49shown in. the drawings.

Extending vaxially through the breech-bolt. 28.

is a firing-plunger 50 which is adapted to be driven forwardly in any suitable manner to discharge the rearm such, for instance, as by the impact of a pivotal hammer 5l. The said hammer is mounted in the trigger-plate unit l1 before referred to, and may be controlled in any suitable. mannerr such, for instance; as by a trigger 52 also forming a feature of the trigger-plate unit l1.

Eccentrically with respect to but parallel with the. firing-plunger 5i), the breech-bolt 28 is formed with a forwardly-opening pocket 53 in which reciprocates a plunger-like cartridge-ejector 54 which is pressed forwardly by a helical ejector-spring 55 located in the rear-portion of the pocket 53. The forward-end of the cartridgeejector 54 is` adapted to extend into the recess 48 in the forward-end of the breech-bolt 28 adjacent the periphery of the said recess for purposes of ejecting a cartridge in a manner as will more fullyA hereinafter appear.

IAdjacent-itsforward-end, the breech-bolt 28 is formed with; a transverse substantially-diametric passage 55 in'whichis pivotally-mounted the stem 51 ofV a cartridge-extractor generally designated by the reference character 58. The said cartridge-extractor also includes a head-portion 59 which isaccommodated with freedom for swinging movement in av diagonal recess 60 formed in the: adjacent portionv of the breech-bolt 28. The end of the head-portion 59 of the cartridge-extractor 58 is formed with an extractor-hook 6l which is curved in a direction circumferentially of the breech-bolt 28 and extends laterally part way'into the recess 48 in the front-end of the latter. The said extractor-hook BI is adapted to hookl over the head ofk and into the cannelure of -acartridge-casing, such as the cartridge-casing- 4-9, for the Ypurpose of drawing such cartridgecasingl rearwardly out of the cartridge-chamber 2 inthebarrel -I-8. The cartridge-extractor 58 is urged by a helical spring S2 to turn about its stern 5'! in a direction required to engage its extractor-hook El successively with the heads of cartridge-casings.

It will be noted by reference to Fig. 8 in particular,; that the bolt-receiving passage 23'in the receiver vIii is laterally enlarged at its forwardend immediately to the rear of the rear-end of the barrel I'B, lto form a clearance-recess 63 in which thefo-rward-end of the cartridge-extractor 58 may t with freedom for outward movement, to enable it to slide over the head of a cartridgecasing Awhen the breech-bolt is in its unlocked p0- sitionfyas illustrated in Fig. 5. The portion 84 of the bolt-receiving passage 23 immediately below the lower boundary of the clearance-recess 63, constitutes an extractor-locking abutment with which a portion (retaining-abutment) lof the outerface of the forward-portion of the cartridge-extractor 58 is adapted to engage when the breech-bolt is locked in its breech-closing'position,v as shown in Figs. l to 4- inclusive.

The right side-wall '26` of the receiver t5 is formed with an upwardly-opening clearancenotch 55 accommodating the locking-lug 3Q and the rear wall of which constitutes the locking-- abutment 32 before referred to. Rearwardly of the locking-abutment A32 and the clearance-notch 68, the inner face of the right side-wall 25,-is shaped to provide a longitudinal extractor-locking abutment 61. The said extractor-locking abutment 61 is so positioned as tobev .engagedby'the retaining-abutment 65 of the. cartridge-extractor 58,-when. the breech-bolt 2.8 is retired. rearwardly.

as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, for purposes of preventing-the said extractor from retiring out of engagement with the head of the cartridge-casing as the same is being ejected, in a manner as will more fully hereinafter appear.

Operation When the breech-bolt is locked in its breechclosing position as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 Yand 4, the cartridge-extractor 58 will also be positively locked in position wherein its extractor-hook 6| is located in theV cannelure of the cartridge, by the engagement of the retaining-abutment 6.5 with the extractor-locking abutment 64 at the lower-portion of the clearance-recess 63 in the forward-end 20 of the receiver I6.

Thus, when the rearm is discharged, should a defective cartridge be in place in the cartridgechamber 22 and should such cartridge burst adjacent its head-portion, the cartridge-extractor 58 will be iirmly backed-up and thus guarded against breakage or displacement.

` When the firearm is discharged, gas-pressure from the bore 2i of the barrel l 8 will pass through the gas-passage 43, with the effect of driving the piston 444 rearwardly until the rear-face of 'its head 45 strikes the forward-face of the ring-like stop-member 41, whereupon the rearward movement of the said piston will cease. This rearward movement of the piston as just described, while but of short length, will drive the action-slide 35 rearwardly against the tension of the breech-closing spring 40 until the said action-slide reaches the limit of its rearward travel.

As soon as the action-slide starts rearwardly under the impulse of the piston 44, as above described, the contours of the cam-recess 34 of the said action-slide will first cause the breech-bolt 28 to turn slightly in a clockwise direction (when viewed from the front), with the effect of disengaging the locking-lugs 29 and 38 of the said breech-bolt from the complemental locking-abutments 3l and 32 of the receiver I6. The turning movement of the breech-bolt as just described, will effect its rotation from the position in which it is shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive into the position in which it is shown in Figs. 5 and 6, so that both the cartridge-ejector 54 and the cartridge-extractor 58 will be similarly turned with the said breech-bolt.

As the breech-bolt is turned into its unlocked position as above described, the retaining-abutment 65 of the cartridge-extractor 58 will be moved upwardly out of engagement with the extractor-locking abutment 64 of the receiver I6 and into the adjacent clearance-recess 63.

Following the unlocking of the breech-bolt as above described, the continued rearward movement of the action-slide 35 under the impulse imparted to it by the piston 44 as before described, will carry the said breech-bolt 28 rearwardly with great rapidity. Now since the cartridge-extractor 58 moves with the said breech-bolt, the cartridge-casing 49 or its equivalent, will be drawn rearwardly out of the ycartridge-chamber 22.

After the breech-bolt 28 moves rearwardly sufciently to cause the cartridge-extractor 58 to pass rearwardly beyond the clearance-notch 66, the said cartridge-extractor will be again locked in position to positively hold its extractor-hook 6l in the cannelure of the cartridge-casing 49 as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. This locking will be caused by the engagement of the retaining-abutment 65 of the said cartridge-extractor with the longitudinal extractor-locking abutment 61 on the inner-face ofi the right* side-wall I 26 'fof the receiver I6. .4

As soon as the forward-end of the cartridgecasing 49 clears the rear-end of the barrel i8, the springpressed cartridge-ejector 54 will be free to thrust forwardly upon the lower-portion of the rear-face of the said cartridge-casing and thus swing the forward-end of thev latter upwardly about the extractor-hook 6l as a center. The said cartridge-casing will thus be flippedupwardly and ejected through the ejection-opening 21.

The 'described swinging movement of the cartridge-casing 49 will impose an additional strain on the extractor-hook 6|, with a tendency to retire the same against the tension of the extractor-spring 62. However, due to the fact that at this time the retaining-abutment 65 of the cartridge-extractor 58 is in engagement with the lon-z gitudinal extractor-locking abutment 51 on the right side-wall 26 of the receiver I6, the said extractor-hook will remain rmly in place, despite theadded strain referred to. In this manner, uniform and effective ejection of cartridgecasings is assured.

After the ejection of the cartridge-casing 49 as above described, the breech-bolt will continue rearwardly to the limit of its movement in that direction, following which the breech-closing spring 48 will assent itself and again restore the parts to the positions in which `they are shown in Figs. l1 to 4 inclusive.

As the breech-bolt 28 moves forwardly, it will force a fresh cartridge into the cartridge-chamber 22. Such fresh cartridge may be supplied by any suitable magazine.

When `the breech-bolt 28, in its forward travel, reaches its breech-closing position and just prior tol being turned in a counterclockwise direction to be locked, the forward-portion of the cartridge-extractor 58 will reenter the clearancerecess 63 in the forward-end of the bolt-receiving passage 23. Under these conditions, the cartridge-extractor will befree to pivot againstthe tension of the spring 62, to cause the extractorhook 6| to ride over the head of the cartridge and enter the cannelure thereof.

The continued forward movement of the action-slide under the urge of the breech-closing spring 46, willl now turn the breech-bolt 28 in a counterclockwise direction to reengage the locking-lugs 29 and 38 thereof respectively with the locking-abutments 3l and 32 of the receiver I6. The described turning movement of the breech-bolt 28 will reengage the outwardly-facing retaining-abutment of the cartridge-extractor 58 with the extractor-locking abutment 64 within the forward-end of the bolt-receiving passage 23 of fthe receiver I6.

Thus, the firearm will again be in condition for discharge and a repetition of the cycle above described.

The invention may be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth withoult departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and fthe present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

1. A rearm-structure, including in combination: a breech-bo-lt constructed and arranged to both longitudinally reciprocate and transversely oscillate in the hereinafter-mentioned receiver;

a cartridge-extractor pivoted to the said-breechbollt for bodily movement therewith and pivotal movement relative thereto and provided with an outwardly-facing retaining-abutment; and a receiver having a bolt-receiving passage therein in which .fthe said breech-bolt is movably mounted, the'said receiver being formed within theforward-portion of its said bolt-receiving passage with an inwardly-facing extractor-locking abutment and with a clearance-recess circumferentially -adjacerrt the saideXtractor-locking abutment, the said extractor-locking abutment being constructed. and arranged in 'the saidyreceiverv toy be engaged bythe retaining-abutment: of the said cartridge-extractor when the said breech-bolt is turnedtransversely into onel position tofthereby positively lock the said cartridge-extractorin engagement with a cartridge-casing, and the said clearance-recess beingA positioned' to. register with the retaining-abutment of the said cannidgeextractor 'when the said breech-bolt is turned transversely out of the position justreferred to, to thereby free the said cartridge-extractor for pivotal movement relative to the said breechbolt.

2. A 'iirearm-structure.-including in combination: 'a breech-bolt constructed and arranged to both ylongitudinally reciprocate and transversely oscillate in the hereinafter-mentioned receiver; a cartridge-extractor pivoted to the said breechbolt for bodily movement therewith and pivotal movement relative thereto and provided with an outwardly-facing retaining-abutment; andr a receiver having a bolt-receiving passage therein in which the said breech-bolt is movably mounted, the said receiver being formed within the forward-portion of its said bolt-receiving passage with a vfirst inwardly-facing extractor-locking abutment and with a clearance-recess circumferentially adjacent' the said first extractor-locking abutment, the said first extractor-locking abutment being constructed and arranged in the said receiver to be engaged by the retaining-abutment of the said cartridge-extractor when the said breech-bolt is turned transversely into one position to thereby positively lock the said cartridge-extractor in engagement with a cartridgecasing, and the said clearance-recess being positioned toy register with the retaining-abutment of the said cartridge-extractor when the `saidbr'eech-bolt is turned transversely out of the'position just referred to, to thereby free the said cartridge-eictractor for pivotal movement relative to the said breech-bolt; the said receiver also being formed in its said bolt-receiving passage with a second inwardly-facing extractor-locking abutment spaced rearwardly with respectl to theaforesaid clearance-recess and constructed and arranged :toy be engaged by the retaining-abutment ofthe: said cartridge-extractor toA positively lock the latterzwith a. cartridge-casing when the` said breech-boit is moved rearwardly sufficiently Yto i cause :the said cartridge-extractor tofully extract a cartridge-casing. v

3. A firearm-structure, includingr in combination: a breech-bolt constructed andar-ranged to both longitudinally reciprocate .and transversely oscillate inthe hereinafter-mentioned receiver; a cartridge-entractor carried by the said breechbolt for bodily movement therewith ina direction transverse of the firea nl-structure and movable relative to the said breech-bolt to` permit its riding over the head of a cartridge, the said Vcartridge-extractor being provided with an outwardly-facing retaining-abutment; and a receiver having a bol't-receiving-passage therein in which the said breech-bolt is movably mounted, the said receiver being formed within the forward-portion of ists said bolt-receiving passage with an inwardly-facing extractor-locking abutment and with a clearance-recess circumferentially adjacent the said extractor-locking abutment, thesai-d extractor-locking abument being constructed and arranged in the said receiver to be engaged by the retaining-abutment of the sai-d cartridge-extractor when the said breech-bott is turned transversely into one position to thereby positivelyv lock the said cartridge-extractor in engagement with a cartridge-casing, and the said clearance-recess being positioned to register with the retaining-abutment of the said cartridgeextractor when the said breech-bolt is turned transversely. out of.` the position-just referred to, to hereby free the said cartridge-extractor for movement relative fto the said breech-bolt.

DAVID M. WILLIAMS. 

